Never been to a Chiefs game? Veteran fans reveal tips for tailgating at Arrowhead
Game days are events for Kansas City Chiefs Kingdom. Groups plan weeks in advance to figure out the best time to arrive, what foods and drinks to bring and what tickets they should buy so they can all sit together.
Fans get in line hours before the gates open and get their grills going.
But tailgating outside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium can be scary if you’ve never done it before. So we asked a few die-hard Chiefs fans to share their tips on how to throw the best party before the game kicks off.
Before you go, check out this guide to Chiefs games, featuring what you can bring inside the stadium and where you can park.
BUY ITEMS TO ONLY USE FOR TAILGATING
Anita Paige and her husband, Tim, moved back to Kansas City from Seattle in 2016, and after buying a car, the first thing they purchased was Chiefs season tickets. Tim dreamed of being a season ticket holder since he was a child.
Her No. 1 tip for anyone who wants to tailgate: Have a separate stash of supplies just for tailgaiting: crockpots, bowls, power supplies and portable grills. Store them away in a place where you’ll remember them for football season for easy access for the game.
“It’s unforgiving if you forget your forks or your cups,” Anita Paige said. “You cannot just go to the store.”
GET IN LINE EARLY
The gates for the parking lot open 4½ hours before kickoff. That means for Sunday’s 7:20 p.m. game against the Tennessee Titans, you can’t enter the parking lot until 2:50 p.m.
Tim said that to have a really good time at the tailgate, arrive around four hours before kickoff to get a good parking spot. That means if the game starts at noon, be prepared to party at 8 a.m. and be even more prepared to wake up earlier than that.
Get some sleep the night before.
HAVE YOUR FOOD AND BEVERAGES READY
A season ticket holder for 12 years, Ricardo Alaniz and his group of around 20 fans buy everything they need a few days before. This includes foods, cups, plates, forks, knives and drinks.
He prefers Modelo beer and Patron tequila, but get whatever you feel comfortable with.
His crew won’t cook anything until they’re parked and ready to go. Hamburgers and hot dogs are always on the menu.
However, the day before special occasions, they’ll prepare menudo, a traditional Mexican soup, or tamales, a crowd favorite. Alaniz said that one time, they all pooled together to bring a shrimp boil.
Anita Paige recommends bringing enough ice to store your food in a cooler once the tailgate is over. She doesn’t want the food to spoil sitting in a car for 3-4 hours, and you shouldn’t either.
It’s also great to have if you’re stuck in the parking lot in traffic after the game. At least you’ll have leftovers.
PREPARE FOR THE WEATHER
Dress for the occasion. If it’s cold out, wear layers, and if it’s hot, dress comfortably so you don’t overheat. Alaniz said his wife, Maricela, has a bag of extra clothing, depending on the weather.
She’ll pack scarves, jackets and hats for cold games and bring extra T-shirts and jerseys for hot games in case the sweat stains are too visible.
The weather also dictates what the Paige family will cook for their tailgate. They usually make baked potato soup, jambalaya or gumbo for cold games.
CLEAN UP
The Alaniz and Paige families both said they start cleaning up around an hour before gates to the stadium open.
Paige has a system with his group and they all get their spot cleaned up within 10 minutes on a good day. The tables, tents and chairs are the first to get packed up, and then the food follows. You don’t want to play Tetris and end up missing the opening kickoff cleaning your mess.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO JOIN IN
As this video by The Star’s Randy Mason and Todd Feedback shows, Chiefs fans are friendly. Fans from the rival Chargers joined a random tailgate after wandering around the parking lot and had a fantastic time.
Alaniz said this happens often with his tailgates. He’ll spot people wearing jerseys from the team the Chiefs are playing and offer them food and drinks.
He even had up to 60 people once, and when you have a live DJ in your car, you’re bound to meet new people.
If it’s your first time tailgating at Arrowhead, just hop in and have fun.
“That’s the one thing about Arrowhead,” Alaniz said. “We know how to have a good time.”
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
Get your parking passes ahead of time. Each pass costs $47, and cash is not accepted.
Ticket prices for the games vary depending on who the Chiefs are playing. They cost $125-$280, and you can get your single-game tickets here.
Arrowhead also has regulations for tailgating:
Parking spaces can’t be used for tailgate equipment alone.
Maintain an aisle that is clear of tailgate equipment. Your total tailgate space is limited to 8 feet behind each parking space, so emergency vehicles can get through.
Parking is for ticketed guests only. The Chiefs have the right to confirm that fans have tickets before letting them enter the parking lot.
You can’t tailgate during the game.
Signs and banners that can be deemed offensive, including the Confederate flag, can’t be displayed.
